QUESTION 1(b)
GS4
10 marks
Apart from intellectual competency and moral qualities, empathy and compassion are some of the other vital attributes that facilitate the civil servants to be more competent in tackling the crucial issues or taking critical decisions. Explain with suitable illustrations.
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Explain with illustrations how empathy and compassion, beyond intellect and integrity, help civil servants handle crucial issues and decisions.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Define empathy (understanding others' feelings) and compassion (empathy plus action to relieve suffering)≈30 words
- 2How they help: citizen-centric policy, crisis management, conflict resolution, last-mile delivery, trust≈30 words
- 3Illustrations: officers in disasters and pandemic, Armstrong Pame's people's road, rehabilitation decisions≈30 words
- 4Caution: empathy must stay within rules and fairness≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
DefinitionsWhy intellect alone is not enough2–3 illustrationsLimitsConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Defining terms without illustrations, which the question asks for
- Confusing empathy with sympathy
Draw this
- Triangle: intellect, integrity, empathy/compassion → good decisions
Value addition
- IllustrationIAS officer Armstrong Pame built a 100 km road in Manipur's Tamenglong district with crowdfunding and community labour (2012).Public records / media reports
- ThinkerGandhi's talisman: recall the face of the poorest person and ask if your step will help them.M.K. Gandhi, 1948 note
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Abhishek Singh · Page 6 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Ritika Chitlangia · Page 8 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 3 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Vidushi Singh · AIR 13 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.